Error messages

To provide a quality service to users, all Monash websites must provide customised error messages for the following common web errors:

• 401 - the user is not authorised to access the page, or has entered an incorrect username and/or password.
• 403 - file permissions prevent read access to the page
• 404 - there is no page/file matching the request URL
• 500 - there is a server configuration/scripting error.

Standard error message text

Standard text for error messages has been developed and is supplied with the approved web templates. The aim is to clearly explain the error to users and assist them to recover from the error. The standard text must replace any error messages currently in use.

Functionality of the error pages

The error messages use CGI-Mailer, an online form processor. They capture the referring page URL as well as the page on which the error occurred and allow users to submit error reports to site maintainers with a single click.

The scripts, HTML, and data files needed to implement standard Monash error messages are supplied with the approved web templates.

Use a role account email address with the error pages

All error messages must send the error report to the local webmaster or web team rather than to webmaster@monash.edu.au.

Web teams should obtain a role account. Using a personal email address means that error reports may not be dealt with when the recipient is on leave, ill, or has left their position.